400 C.E.

Anglo-saxons, who spoke different dialects, were scattered along the north and east coast
of Europe

At the time of the Roman Empire, the speakers of what was to become English are scattered They
spoke different dialects since they have different tribes (Angles, Saxons, and Jutes or we can refer them
all as Anglo-Saxons)

Theyre first step is to smash the civilization they were learning from..

- The Roman power weakened badly.

Even though the Romans has been the ruling power in Britain since 43 C.E., their influence didnt extend
to the outlying parts of the British isles. In Scotland, Whales and Ireland the Celts remained free and wild,
they made periodic forays against the Romans in England.

- The untamed tribes grow more and more restive and Anglo-Saxons began to make pirate
raids on the eastern coast

So nagkaproblema ang Roman Empire

410 C.E. the last roman ruler in England left the island and the Celts were left in possession of Britain
but almost defenceless against the impending anglo-saxon attack

449 C.E. the Jutes came in response to a plea from the Celtic King, Vortigern, who wanted their help
against the Picts attacking the north.

- Later the Angles established themselves in the eastern England and the Saxons in the
south and west

Fighting went on for as long as hundred years (King Arthur had some success against the Anglo-Saxons
but it was only temporary)

550 C.E. Anglo-Saxon were finally established, English was in England

597 C.E. the conversion began

600 C.E. Anglo-Saxon were converted to Christianity and learned the Latin alphabet

No record of the English language until after 600

The conversion was a great advance for Anglo-Saxons (spiritual benefits and it re-established contact
with what remained of Roman civilization

700 C.E. Northumbrian Renaissance

- Best of the Old English literature was written, e.g. Beowulf

England was divided into several more or less autonomous regions. The most advanced kingdom was
Northumbrians. They had developed a respectable civilization, the finest in Europe.

8th century (701 800) the Northumbrian power declined, and the center of influence moved
southward to Mercia, the kingdom of Midlands
9th century (801-900) Wessex, the country of the West Saxons became the leading power.

851 C.E. 900 C.E. Alfred the Great reigned and he was the most famous king of the West Saxons

He was famous not only as a military man and administrator, but also as a champion of learning. He
founded and supported schools and translated many books from Latin into English.

- Much of the Northumbrian literature of two centuries later was copied in West Saxons

A great bulk of Old English writing which has come down to us is the West Saxon dialect of 900 or later

In the military sphere, Alfreds great accomplishment was his successful opposition to the Viking
invasion.

9th - 10th Century (801 1000) Norsemaen attacked and plundered several countries, including
England

886 C.E. Norsemaen landed an army on the east coast of England

After many years of hit-and-run raids, they landed... there was nothing much to oppose them except
the Wessex power led by Alfred.

877 C.E. the long struggle ended with a treaty

A lign was drawn roughly from the northwest of England to the southwest. On the eastern side of the
line, Norse rule was to prevail. This is called the Danelaw. The western side was to be governed by the
Wessex.

- this resulted to a considerable injection of Norse into English Language

Norse and English are not so different from each other. There was considerable interchange and word
borrowing. Norsemen also influenced the sound structure and the grammar of English.

1000 1200 Old English became Middle English

Various important changes took place in the structure of English. This is because of the political event
called Norman Conquest. Normans, taga Northern France jud ni sila. Then naabot sila sa England and
made themselves masters of England. For the next several hundred years, England was ruled by kings
whose first language was French.

French didnt became the national language because although it is the language of court, nobility,
polite society, or the language of literature, it did not replace English as the language of the people.

French word came into English

Great vowel shift (35)

It is customary to divide the history of English language into three periods

7th century 1100 Old English

1100 1450 or 1500 Middle English

1500 present Modern English

1500 1700 Early Modern

1700 present Late Modern